GMCH to get Rs 50L compensation for lowering MRI fees

Needy patients received a shot in the arm when district guardian minister Ramdas Kadam earmarked funds worth Rs 50 lakh from the district planning and development committee (DPDC) in a meeting held at the district collector’s office on Saturday.Ranjana Diggikar | TNN | August 17, 2015, 14:32 IST

High-tech scan a boon for bone marrow cancer patients. (Thinkstock photos/Getty Images)AURANGABAD: Needy patients received a shot in the arm when district guardian minister Ramdas Kadam earmarked funds worth Rs 50 lakh from the district planning and development committee (DPDC) in a meeting held at the district collector’s office on Saturday.

He directed the Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) to cut exorbitant charges for MRI from Rs 1,800 to Rs 700. The earmarked funds would be used to compensate the difference amount (Rs 900).

Kadam was in the city on the occasion of Independence Day.

On January 23 this year, TOI had published a report about how MRI and CT scans are out of reach of the patients from economically weaker sections because of steep hike in charges. Despite hi-tech facilities at the hospital for the patients, exorbitant fees were affecting those seeking affordable treatment.

Thereafter, MIM MLA Imtiyaz Jaleel raised the issue during the DPDC meeting on January 27. Reacting to the issue, Kadam had said that poor patients seek treatment at the GMCH and how would they manage to arrange money if exorbitant fees are levied on them.

In the absence of MRI facility at the civic body-run hospitals, a large number of patients are brought to the GMCH for scanning. The hospital’s rate for MRI scanning is much lower than that of the private medical institutes in the city, which is adding to its patient load.

Around 70 images are taken every day with the help of one machine at the hospital. In private hospitals, MRI tests are generally performed on 20-25 patients a day. Considering the rush, the test is conducted between 8am and 8pm at the GMCH. However, the heavy inflow of patients extends the waiting period.

“With the city lacking a civil hospital and the civic body-run hospitals not having the MRI facility, the entire load is on the GMCH,” said sources in the hospital.

“The hospital management is doing its best with only one machine. We prioritise emergency patients and give appointment to planned cases,” sources said, adding that the hospital was following the government’s instructions regarding charges for all medical tests.

Suhas Jewlikar, medical superintendent in the GMCH, said, “All charges are levied as per the government resolution issued to the hospital. Changes would be brought only after the hospital receives instructions from the government,” he said.

Sources in the hospital said it would take a long time if the government resolution has to be changes as the procedure is quite tedious and has to be implemented at all the 13 state-run government medical colleges and hospitals. “Hence, the minister went for this option so that poor patients are benefited at the earliest,” sources added.

New GMCH dean to take charge

After a gap of nine months, the GMCH will finally get a permanent dean. Chandrakant Mhaske, former professor and head of the skin department at BJ Medical College in Pune, would be taking charge as the dean of Aurangabad GMCH on Monday. Mhaske was also a former deputy dean at BJMC, Pune. He is known to be soft-spoken and a good administrator. After K S Bhopale retired nine months ago, the position was occupied by various acting deans such as Chhaya Diwan, Bhaskar Khaire and Kanan Yelikar.

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